Automatic uncoupling device



(No Model.)

G.'J. LUBBERING.

AUTOMATIC UNOOUPLING DEVICE.

Patented Aug. 9, 1887 N. Firms Phnlo-Ldhvznpbor, Waihinglnn. 0.;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE J. LUBBERING, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

AUTOMATIC UNCOUPLING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of, Letters Patent No. 368,157, dated August9, 1887.

Application filed May 9, 1887. Serial No. 237,598. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE J. LUBBERING, a resident of Cincinnati, inthe county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Auto matic Uncoupling Devices, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention is especially adapted to be used upon coal-cars asemployed upon elevated trackways. It is adapted to be used on all carswhich are attached to cables, and more especially to that class whichare attached to one end ofa cable.

The object of my invention is to automatieally uneouple acar as itarrives at the point of destination, all of which will be set forth inthe description of the accompanying drawings, making a part of thisspecification, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of the elevatedtrackway, and the frame of a car with my improvement attached. Fig. 2 isa perspective View of the uncoupling device. Fig. 8 is a top plan viewof Fig. 2.

1 represents the track way; 2, the ties or sleepers supportingthe track;3, the car-trucks; 4 the cable for pulling the car; 5, the car-axle; 6,the coupling-bar provided with slot 7, into which the eye 8 of thecable-swivel enters. 9 represents the other portion of the swivelattached to the cable 4.

10 represents an oscillating lever pivoted to the aXle by a bolt, 11.

12 represents a lug or downwardly-projecting arm of the lever.

13 represents a draw-bar carrying the bolt or pin 14. on its inner end.This pin passes through eyes formed in the end of the drawbar 6, whichis preferably made by doubling over the metal and welding the two partstogether, as shown in Fig. 2.

15 represents a spriugcompressing-rod. It is supported by car 16 on thelever 10 and by car 17 on draw-bar 6.

18 represents the head, forming the springseat at one end, and the car17 forms the other seat of the coiled spring 19. The spring 19 normallyholds the lever 10 and drawbar 13 in the position shown in Figs. 1 and2, and the bolt 11 passes through the eyes of the drawbar and theswivel-eye 8, in which position the car is securely coupledto the cable4.

In order to automatically uncouple the car, a tripping-block, 20, isplaced in proper position upon the ties of the track,-so that the lug 12of lever 10 will strike the inclined edge 21 and, as the car passesalong, will pull the lever 10 and the draw-bar 13 into the positionshown in Fig. 3, releasing the coupling or con-- nection of the car tothe cable. The spring automatically pulls the coupling-bar back intoposition.

In Fig. 1 the illustration represents the two ends of an elevatedtrackway for coal-cars, and two tripping-blocks 20 are in position touncouple the car at each end of its route while in motion, and allow thecar to go forward to its destination.

This contrivance is very cheap, simple, and effective, and avoids dangerto the operator in uncoupling the car.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new is 1. The uncouplingdevice composed substantially of the lever 10, coupling-arm 13, draw-bar6, slotted to receive the eye of the cable, and the tripping-block 20,attached to the track, substantially as specified.

2. In combination with the axle of a car, the slotted draw-bar 6, thecoupling-arm-13, the lever 10, and the spring and rod attached to thedraw-bar and lever, substantially as specified.

3. In combination with the uncoupling device consisting of the lever 10,draw-bar 6, the coupling-arm 13, the compressingspring 19, operated bythe lever 10, and tripping-block 20, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

GEORGE J. LUBBERING.

llitnesses:

J. WArsoN Suns, M. E. llIILLIKAN.

